How good would London Knights blue-line be with Swedish star?

The Knights could boast one of the deadliest — and most exciting — blue lines in junior hockey this fall.

They need some NHL co-operation, of course, first.

London signed Swedish star Adam Boqvist to an OHL standard players agreement Thursday, less than a week after the Blackhawks first-rounder inked his entry-level deal with Chicago.

The 17-year-old from Falun will call Budweiser Gardens home in 2018-19, if he doesn’t crack the big squad on his first try.

“We’ve had communication with the Blackhawks all the way through,” London GM Rob Simpson said.

“With where they drafted him (eighth overall), they wanted to sign him and once Adam saw how the development path would work through us and Chicago and how we would work together and they would support it, that solidified the talks we’ve had with him in the last year and a half.

“Stan (Hawks GM Stan Bowman) and scout Jim McKellar (a former Knights assistant GM) have been great to deal with and (director of scouting) Mark Kelley has been fantastic, too.”

Adam Boqvist, selected eighth overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2018 NHL draft, will play for the London Knights if he doesn’t crack Chicago’s lineup. (Getty Images)

Boqvist was originally London’s second-round pick (109th overall) in the 2017 Canadian Hockey League import draft. He spent last season at home mainly with the Brynas under-20 team, racking up 14 goals and 24 points in 25 SuperElit games.

He was picked two spots ahead of current Knights captain Evan Bouchard, who went to Edmonton, last month in Dallas. Both are trying to make the big jump to the pros right now, but if not, they can anchor their respective country’s world junior defence and light it up as the OHL’s best pairing for London.

“If Evan and Adam come back here, we’ve regrouped our back end to where it’s a real strength of our team,” Simpson said.

They have reason to be cautious, though.

Victor Mete cracked the Canadiens roster as a teenager and last year’s first-round import pick Jesper Bratt — a good friend of Boqvist’s older brother Jesper, a New Jersey prospect — surprised many by sticking with the Devils at age 19.

Even after signing Adam Boqvist, the Knights still retain the rights to the two import players they picked last week — Russian centre Matvei Guskov and Belarusian defender Vladislav Kolyachonok. Only two imports can suit up for an OHL squad, but London won’t have to remove anybody until the fall.

“It’s a good situation to have,” Simpson said. “We’re going to continue to talk to the other two players in lieu of (Boqvist’s tryout with Chicago) and then wait and see.”

Boqvist, like Bouchard, is an offensive game-changer who isn’t afraid to lead the rush. He has the ability to be an instant OHL star.

“He makes some plays that will bring you out of your seat,” Simpson said. “There are some very special things he can contribute to a lineup. He’s very gifted, a dynamic player with a great first pass. He has great ability to move across the offensive blue line and has a very heavy and accurate shot. He has this half-snap, half-wrist shot I’ve seen him pick through holes from the point.”

Boqvist is in the same situation as Bouchard is with the Oilers.

He is committed to playing in London, but that won’t be decided until the Blackhawks decide on his fate after training camp.